Location: In the Capitan Mountains Wilderness, approximately 2.5 miles southwest of Capitan Peak and 9 miles west of Arabela, NM

Lat/Long: 33 deg, 34 min, 46.19 sec X 105 deg, 18 min, 4.79 min

Legal Description: T8S, R17E, Sec 30

Firefighting Resources: The Tower wildfire is currently unstaffed and being regularly monitored by aerial resources.

Values at Risk: None identified at the time of this report (6/4/16 – 9:30 pm)

Size: estimated size at this time is ONE-TENTH OF AN ACRE

Containment: None at this time

Cause: Lightning

Status: The fire was originally reported on May 30, following a lightning storm. Aerial resources conducting routine detection flights were unable to locate the fire until yesterday, June 3 when they observed a small white plume of light smoke. The fire is less than one-tenth of an acre in size and will continue to be monitored from the air. It is in very rough, rugged terrain within the Capitan Mountains Wilderness.

Regarding smoke, in the event of a prescribed fire or wildfire: If visibility becomes lower because of smoke, please visit the NM Department of Health’s smoke page: https://nmtracking.org/fire

This post will be updated as additional information becomes available.